Wall construction and sections therefor



Oct. 15, 1929. E. w. LEsHER 1,732,056

WALL CONSTRUCTION AND SECTIONS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 27, 1927 5 sheets-sheet 1 -v5 lq. 4. 4a M, a

Och l5, 1929. E. w. LESHER WALL CONSTRUCTION AND SECTIONS THEREFOR 5 4Sheaeces-Sheer. 2

Filed Jan. 27, A1927 wat. 15 19m E. w. LESHER Lazss WALL CONSTRUCTION AND SECTIONS THEREFOR .rm/enfer Patented Oct.. 15, 1929 UNITE EARL W. LESHER, LAKEWOOD, OHIO WALL CONSTRUCTION AND SECTIONS THEREFOR Application filed January 27, 1927. SeraI No. 163,888.

rl[`his invention relates to a wall construction, formed from sections or units. In one application of the invention it may constitute the exposed surface or Wall and in such use s its face may be treated for decorative effect or painted or papered. In another application of the invention, either for the outside or inside walls (or both) of a building, the sec'- tional Wall forms a base for a coating of suit- 1o able material, for example plastic material.

@ne object of the invention is to provide an improved sectional wall or wall surface which is relatively cheap, light, easily handled and formed of a material having relatively high insulating characteristics to prevent the transfer of heat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction having a sectional wall which is relatively simple and economical and in which the sections are so inter-related along their side edges that buckling or distortion thereof between the wall studding and ultimate damage to the wall is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wall having a base for the coating so constructed that expansion may take place without causing distortion.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a wall construction having an improved base,y whereby a finishing coat may be readily applied and firmly held on the base when hardening of the coating material takes place.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to" which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein l Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe interior of a building having a wall construction em bodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the wall.

ing a different form of interconnecting device. Y

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a View similar to Figs. 4 and 7, but showing another form of interconnecting device.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 4, 7 and 9, but showing another foi-m of interconnecting device. y

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentaryv View, in perspective, showing a further modification of my invention. n

Fig. 14 is a section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section showing a further modification of the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, showing another form of construction. Fig. 17 is a section on the line v17-17 of Fig. 16,

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary View, in perspective, showing a still further modified form of construction.

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19. y

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 19 and 20.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view showing a` wall with my improved base applied to both sides of the studding. y Fig. 23 is a fragmentary View showing one Vway of forming certain abutting edges of a Fig. 3 is a plan view uof the parts shown i I w Fig. 7 isia view similar to Fig. 4, but showbase section.

My improved construction is adapted for use as a surface, such as a wall, for example, the side walls of a building, or as the base for a coating where'the latter is to form the wall surface, either interiorly or eXteriorly of a building. When my improved construct-ion is used for exterior walls, I prefer to employ in connection therewith a certain arrangement of the base sections and certain structural features to effect keying of the 15 f lmately 16 .sheets of cellular material,` such as insulite,

v cerned, thel construction hereindisclosed and claimed may constitute either the outside or inside'wall of a building, or the construction may-be such that both the outside and inside faces thereof' may be provided by the use of my improved wall sections or units, as shown in Fig. 22.

The wall A comprises uprights or studding 1 preferably having their `'centers approxiapart, a wall 2 consisting of celotex units, for preferably one-half inc .in thickness,` Vand 'nailed or. otherwise secured' to the studdingl, as shown at" 3, in edge Ato edge relation. For

or masonite cut into sections or -al1 interior Wall,such sections constitute a (1) wall or wall surface,

as will later appear of (2) base for aiinish ing surface or coating B r and the like (Fig. 1) for an exterior wal such sections constitute a base for cement o r yalthough in either arrangement the. base may be. otherwise surfaced or coated without departing from the invention.

In exterior wall construction I may use two h thicknesses vor layers of the sheet material 2,

- separate application like.

terial constituting the and secure themtogether face to face by a weatherproof cement, halt to insure insulation against dampness.

ut this arrangement will be included in the (already referredto) for which reason -it is not shown or claimed herein.

The materials referred to are made from wood pulp, corn stalks, sugar cane or other cellular stock suitably treated and rolled or com ressed into sheet form of any desired thic ness (but preferably one-half inch thickness) an`d cut into=any desired size. Such abricated materials have a number of advantageous characteristics for use as a Wally or as a base where the surface is to constitute a coating suchas plasticmaterial and the The sections 2 made from any of these materials are relatively light and enable a workman to carry and handle relatively. large sheets thereof in a ready manner. The sections form an insulating sheathing to exclude and prevent the escape of air and to prevent the transfer of heat by conduction in either direction. The material also lends itself to ready impregnation with moisture-proofing material, suceh as heated asphalt condition, and absorbs or permits impregnation to a limited extent of the plastic ina. finishing coat B so that in thehardening'of the latter a vacuum is set *up between thebase sections andthe coating example 48 b 16" or 48 by 24 other plastic material such as a liquid as-- in liquid to maintain the latter in fixed relation to the base. The material of which the sections are made permits it or its edges to be readily shaped or formed when being fabricated or in its completed state, the material may be cut by a saw or other tool into different sizes and the edges of the sections may be acted upon by a suitable tool, .such as a milling cutter to sha e them as shown herein; also, such materia permits, the projection into it' or between its fibers interconnecting devices such as relatively thin plates, as will later ap ear, without weakening and causing a brea ing down of the material; also by reason of its cellular form the material. is cpmpressible or yieldableand ex- Vpansible to a limited extent.

4 indicates interlocking devices disposed between the aligned, abutting edges 2Il of the sections, the' purpose being to form a construction wherein'the'base sections are suitably maintained in their planes without the use of structuraP supports, such as headers, toresist pressure incident to the a plication of the coating material thereto or istortion or buckling dueto expansion or contraction. I have shown herein two forms of interconnecting devices and several species of each form. One form 4 is shown in Figs. 2vto 12, inclusive, and consists of one or more members supported onI and projecting from one orizontal or side edge 2'L of each section 2 and adapted to be projected into the adjoining horizontal or side edge 2l of the adjacent section when the latter is placed in position; and the other form 21, inclusive, and consists of elements on certain or all of the edges 2" of each section 2 so constructed and arranged that when two or more sections 2 are positioned on the studding l substantially edge to edge the elements on one edge of one section will be complementary to the elements on the adjoining edge of the adjacent section and therefore such edges will interlock-to prevent disalignment, distortion thereof or lateral movement, one edge relative to the other edge.

Referring to the first form of construction (4'), Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show one species of interconnecting device consisting of a relatively thin plate 5 embedded in the material of each section 2 preferably centrally between its opposite faces and having a portion 5* which extends outwardly in the pla-ne of the sectionfr'om one side edge 2L thereof for projection into the side edge 2 of the adjacent section 2. The plate 5 is shaped so that the projection 5 is relatively sharp, which permits it to be readily embedded in the material pof the adjacent section when the latter is positioned and nailed to the I prefer to mount the plates 5 in the upper horizontal edge 'of each section and to provide a plurality thereof on each section. Where the studding-1 is spaced 16 and the iny a readyn manner,

studding 1. l

titl

sections cut to lengths of 48", I prefer to provide three plates 5 and space them so that each will be arranged substantially midway between adjacent studs. As shown in the drawings, I prefer to use a plate of rectangular shape and so embed it in the material of the section that only one corner of the plate projects outwardly. In this arrangement one long and one short side edge of the plate is utilized to resist theinward thrust incident to the projection of the corner 5*1 into the adjacent section (as shown at 5 in Figs. 2 and 4t). As the edges of the projection `5a are shorter in length than the edges embedded in the section, the resistance along these latter edges will exceed theresistance set up by* the yedges of the projection 51a; accordingly, each plate 5 will remain in operative position when the sections 2 are being applied to the studding 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the interconnecting device comprises a U-shaped plate 6 straddling they edge 2'1l of the section 2 and having a portion up-set to form a projection 6, the slits in the plate being arranged to position the projection centrally between the faces of the plate.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the interconnecting device 7 comprises a plate 2" arranged to engage the side edge 2 of the section 2 and having along its inner edge a depending member 7b embedded in the material of the section and an up-standing projection 7F which extends into the material of the adj acentsection 2, and having along its outer edge alignment members 7d, 7d, one extending upwardly and the other, downwardly so as to engage the outer faces of the adjacent sections 2. As will be` understood, the members 7d, 7d', co-operate with each other and the member 7b and projection 7c to prevent disalignment anddistortion of the sections 2, and accordingly supplement the action of the member 7b and projection 7c. The free edge of the projection 7c is inclined to provide a relatively sharp end.

In Figs. 11 and' 12 the interconnecting device 8 comprises a relatively wide plate 8E11 embedded in the material of-the section and provided with an extension 8b, which projects into the material of the adjacent section, and wings 8c bent at right angles to the plate 8 so as to engage the side edge 2a of the section 2 to resist inward movement of the plate. 'Ihe wings 8 are preferably eX- ended laterally in opposite directions.'

In Figs. 13 to 21, the interconnecting devices et" are provided by shaping the abutting horizontal edges of the rsections to provide complementary interlocking elements which co-act to prevent relative lateral movement, disalignment or distortion between the base sections, such elements constituting the equivalents of the devices Shown in Figs. 2 to 12, inclusive.

' In Figs. 13 and 14,`the opposite horizon-A tal side edges 2" of ach section 2 are beveled on planes parallel to each other, this arrangement providing a complementary fit between the upper edge 2*" of one section 2 and thelower edge 2" of the next section 2. In this arrangement, the lower edge or portion of each section 2 is held against outward flexing'and the upper edge or portion of each section is held against inward flexing. To prevent the flexing of these edges in either direction I prefer to provide between the sections supplemental connectors 10, for example, a connector similar to that shown in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, as shown in Fig. 15.

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18, the opposite faces of the section 2 along each horizontal edge are formed with spaced recesses 11, each preferably having a depth equal to one half the thickness of the section and a length equal to the lengthjof the wall or land 11a separating them. Due to the fact that each recess 11 on either face of the section is opposite a'wall 11n on the same face, it will be seen that when two or more sections are positioned edge to edge, on the studding 1 the recesses 11 and `walls 11a will be complementary and hence permit their interlocking one with another, as shown in Fig. 17. In this form of construction the inner faces of the walls or lands 11a on adjacent sections abut, and as these walls are alternately arranged they co-act to prevent distortion or lateral movementof one section relative to the other.

In Figs. 19, 20, 21 I show another form of complementary interlocking or interconnecting elements, in which portions of each horizontal edge 2a of each section 2 are alternately beveled in opposite directions, as shown at12, 12a. These beveled portions are of uniform length and each beveled portion 12 or 12a on one edge of the section 2 is parallel to a beveled portion 12 or 12, respectively, on

q the other edge of the section opposite thereto.

As a result of this arrangement, each edge 2a lis provided with alternately arranged recesses and lands 12 which are complementary to the adjoining edge of the adjacent section. As shown, each land 12 on one horizontal edge of one section fits between adjoining lands 12" on the adjoining horizontal edge of the adjacent section and the beveled faces or elements 12 or '12a abut face to face, so that such lands co-act to prevent distortion or lateral movement of one section relative to the other.

In the forms of construction shown in Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive, it will be noted that the sections are uniform in construction; for example, along one edgeof the section 2', on one face of the section a land is disposed at one end and a recess at its other end and on the other face, the lands and recesses at the ends of the section are reversed; whereas along the opposite edge of the section, the lands and recesses on corresponding faces of the section yare reversed, respectively; and in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, the abutting face on the edge at one end of the section is beveled oppositely of the abutting face at the other end thereof, while on the opposite edge of the section the beveled faces are reversed, respectively. This uniformity of construction facilitates manufacture, crating and shipping of the sections and lalso their positioning one relative to the other on the studding.

The form of `construction shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21 is advantageous in that the interconnecting walls 12-12 are capable of absorbing orcompensating for any expansion that may take place in the material, for example due to absorption of moisture from the plastic material when the latter is applied to the sections. When such expansion takes place, the cellular characteristics of thematerial permit of limited compression of the walls 12-12'L and slight lateral flexing of the outer portions of the walls or lands 12' so that such expansion is fully compensated for and any resulting pressure tending to move or distort either section laterally is prevented by the co-action of the oppositely inclined faces 12-12", of the adjacent sections.

j In the form of construction shown in Figs. 13 to 21, inclusive, I preferably provide for keying the surfacing material. The keying is secured by slightly cutting away a corner or corners along one horizontal edge of each section, or the perimeter of the resulting edges formed by the interlocking elements 11--11a and 12-123, as shown at 13, thereby forming a keying groove so that the plastic material ,i

may adhere to the fibers exposed in the joints nbetween the sections.

To reduce the operations in cutting to provide the keying groove, I prefer to start the bevel face 12 or 12a at the point a, as shown in Fig. 23, inwardly of one face of the section.

In applying the sections 2 or 2 to the studding l, I may position them out of alignment or off-set one with another vertically, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, or the sections may be disposed in vertical alignment, that is, With v their end edges terminating along the center lines of the same studs. The sections 2 shown lin Figs. 16 to 21. inclusive, are preferably secured to the studding 1, by nails 3 or other suitable means.

In the present construction I have shown the interlocking'devices along two opposite edges of each section. It will be understood that certain thereof particularly, the form v shown in Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive, are

adapted for use along all fo'ur Asides of the section, but such construction and arrange- 1 ment will form the subject-matter of a sepa-v rate application.

The forms of construction shown in Figs. 13 to 21, inclusive, have the further' advantage of providing (1) a sectional wall in in which the securing devices for securing the sections to the studding 1 may be covered or concealed from view; that is, in the first referred to form, such devices extend through the lands 11n on the face of the sectionsadjacent the studding and in the second referred to form the securing devices extend through the lands 12 on the sections adjacent the studding 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the sections forming the wall or Wall surface or a base for a coat-ing are connected together intermediate the spaced studding to impart rigidity to the sheet sections, whereby one is braced by the other; also in thel forms of construction shown in Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive, two opposite edges between adjacent sections have inter-connecting or inter-locking elements throughout their lengths, this being the preferred form of construction, altho in the broader aspects of the invention these elements need extend along a portion of the section edges. As already set forth, the inter-connecting devices prevent distortion or buckling and eliminate the use of headers or other supports between the studding, thus simplifying the wall construction and reducing the cost thereof and labor required. By preventing lateral movement or yielding of the sections between their abutting edges, any and all pressure resulting in the application of a plaster coating is adequately resisted and by preventing distortion due to expansion or contraction,` the wall remains in a plane throughout its entire extent and danger of damaging a plastic'coat, when the latter is applied, is avoided.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. A Wall construction comprising spaced members, sections of material each extending from one member to another member and secured to said members, and means carried by and disposed between the adjoining edges of the sections and extending at right angles to said members for preventing movement of said'edges laterally one relative to t-he other, between said members.

2. A' Wall construction comprising spaced members, sections of material each extending from one member to another member and secured to said members, and means 'lll carried by one edge of each section land ar ranged to project into the' adjoining edge of an adjacent section for preventing movement of said edges laterally onerelative to the other, between said members.

v3. A wall construction comprising spaced members, sections of material each extending from one member toY another member and secured to said members, and means carried by one edge of each "sectionnbetween adjacent members and arranged to project into the adjoining edge of an adjacent section for preventing movement of said edges laterally one relative to the other, between said members. f u

4. A wall construction comprising 4spaced members, sections of material each extending from one member to another member and secured to said members, and devices carried 6. A wall construction as claimed in claim 5 in which one outeredge of each section is 35 Dcut away to form a keying groove between the sections. v

7 A wall construction'comprising spaced studding, and sections of sheet material each extending from one studding to another studeach section being formed with series of alternately arranged recesses and lands, the lands on one side edge being aligned with the recesses on the opposite edge, whereby adjacent sections are complementary one to the other.

8. A wall construction as claimed in claim 7 in which the faces of the recesses and faces of the lands co-act to prevent lateral movement of the edges of the se`ctions` one relative to the other, between their supporting studdin 92.1; A section of sheet material in which portions of two opposite edges are beveled on planes parallel to each other from one face of the section to the opposite face thereof, said portions being beveled in on each edge opposite directions. 10. A section of sheet material provided along two opposite edges with faces beveled from one face of the section to its opposite face in opposite directions, said faces being alternately ,arranged and of uniform lgll In a wall construction, the combination of spaced studding, and a wall comprising by the adjoining edges of adjacent sections ding and secured thereto, opposite side edges ofl sections each extending from one studding to another studding and secured to said studding in edge to edge relation and each provided along two of its opposite edges between the studding with alternately arranged re cesses and lands, those on one edge of one section being complementary to those on 'the Aedge of the adjacent section.

12. In a wall construction, the combination of spaced studding, and a wall compris mg sections secured to said studding in edge to edge relation, two opposite side edges of each section being provided with alternately arranged transversel inclined portions to form series of space projections extending outwardly in line with the opposite faces of the section along each side edge, the projections forming one series alternating with those forming the other series along each of said edges, the planes of the inclined faces of each series intersecting the planes of the faces of the adjacent series.

13. A wall construction as claimed in claim 12 in which the wall sections are formed from cellular stock.

14. A section of material for a wall having along one side edge and upon the opposite faces of said section series of outwardly projecting correspondingly shaped members, the members of each series having corresponding faces in the plane of one face of the section and their other corresponding faces being inclined transversely inwardly to the opposite face of the section and the members of one series alternating with and being oppovsitely disposedrelative to the members of 16. In a wall construction, the combination of spaced studding, and a wall secured to said studding, said wall comprising sections each having along two of its opposite side edges series of transversely inclined faces, one series along one edge being inclined oppositely to the other series along said edge and the faces on the opposite edge being similarly arranged with respect to each other but each out of line with a corresponding faceon the iir'st edge, whereby the sections are of uniform construction and one edge of one section is complementary to the edge of the adjacent section.l

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub 

